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CITY  (NewsDakota.com)–The new National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) coaches ratings were a boost for both Viking basketball teams.

The Viking men, using a run of eight straight wins and 12 wins in 14 games, entered the top 25 at #23 this week.  Their overall record is 14-5.

More importantly, the Viking men are ranked second in the Association of Independent Institutions (A.I.I.) poll, behind Jamestown College.  The top five teams in that poll receive an invite to the AII tournament in Madison, SD, in Feburary, with the top two finishers in the tournament advancing to the national tournament.

The Viking women moved from sixth to third in the AII poll this week.  That move puts them in position to receive an invitation to the post-season tournament as well.

Jamestown College was ranked first in both the mens and womens AII polls.  The Jimmie men are ranked 10th in the nation this week, and the women are ranked 13th.  Cal-State San Marcos, currently 10-11 overall, is ranked second in the AII womens poll this week.

The AII tournament consists of three days.  The first day sees the fifth-ranked team play the fourth-ranked team.  The winner advances to the second day.  The second day will pit the top-ranked team against the first-day winner, and the second and third-ranked teams against each other.  The winners of these games advance to the nationals.

Valley City State’s men have not been to the national tournament in the Dakota Athletic Conference (DAC) or AII era.  Two 20-win teams have been snubbed for invites under head coach Jeff Kaminsky.  The Viking women won the final DAC tournament title last season, and were beaten by Sterling, KS, in the first round of the national tournament.